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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 116 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: charge · pit · prune · squash · last · scale · mark · mouse

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  11. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  12. False peace will not ________________.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  17. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. scale — size or range
  3. charge — electricity
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. mark — a grade
  6. scale — in music
  7. mark — a trace
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. charge — in control
  10. squash — the sport
  11. prune — to trim
  12. last — to go on
  13. pit — a hole
  14. prune — to trim
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. squash — to crush
  17. last — finally
  18. charge — a price
  19. squash — the vegetable
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. last — final

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com